Laminated sign

ABSTRACT

A sign and process of making a sign which comprises applying vinyl graphics to a backside of a substrate by use of high pressure rollers laminating machine or squeegee and covering the back side of the substrate and graphics by a backing sheet. The graphics and backing sheet may be applied by a laminating machine or squeegee and secured in place by a self-adhesive. Applying the laminated film on the reverse side has a protection quality that a silk screened or spray painted face does not have since the vinyl protects the rear side of the face against scratching during installation of the face and/or transportation of the sign.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and means of forming signs and moreparticularly to a sign in which the graphics viewed are protected fromultraviolet light and the weather.

Heretofore, signs have been made in which the graphics have been appliedto the face of the sign and as such is exposed to the weather andultraviolet light. It has also been known to make signs with externallyor internally applied silk screen paint process. Such silk screenprocesses have been covered by a background covering. Known prior artrelated to the invention are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,804;3,494,056; 3,751,319; 3,797,147; 3,959,906; 4,197,151; 4,479,319; and4,604,153. Of the patents listed U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,056 to Elzer isbelieved to be the closest to the present invention. In Elzer, thegraphics are silk screened directly onto a substrate by reverseprinting. Then a background is painted over the silk screen graphics. Abacking paper is then adhered to the graphics and background.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a process and article made by the processwhich results in a more even control unifying of colors, it guaranteesevenness of color because the graphics etc., are created and applied bya machine as opposed to creation and application by a person.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sign which isviewed through the facing to which the graphics and background have beenapplied a mechanical process or preformed and applied to the facing.

Another object is to provide a sign which has greater clarity becausethe graphics and background are not subject to weather conditions andany air normally trapped in front of the graphics is omitted byapplication of the lettering.

The invention will be better understood an further objects andadvantages thereof will become more apparent from the ensuring detaileddescription of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the parts of a sign made in accordance with theprocess.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a sign shown in FIG. 1, furtherillustrating a protective covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to the drawing, there is shown a sign made in accordancewith the process of this invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a sign facing 10made of a transparent material which may be flexible or rigid. Suitablematerials may be LEXAN, ACRYLIC or PVC reinforced with fiberglass ornylon as well as, other transparent materials. The graphics 12represented by the word SIGN is silk screened or otherwise applied to athin translucent vinyl sheet 14 such as by being silk screened on avinyl, then applied to the facing or they may be cut out of silkscreened or pigmented vinyl and applied to the facing and then laminatedwith a clear or colored film. Or graphics may be cut out of silkscreened or translucent material and applied to a thin or cleartranslucent vinyl and then applied to the facing. The graphics may beapplied to the front side of the vinyl sheet by normal lettering or ontothe back side of the vinyl sheet by reverse lettering. The graphics arethen cut out to form individual letters which are then pressed onto thefacing by a roller or squeegee which presses any air from between thevinyl sheet and the facing. A self-adhesive film may be applied to theback side of the facing to which the vinyl is secured or a self-adhesivefilm may be on the facing of the letters that are pressed against thefacing.

Once the graphics have been pressed in place, the entire back of thefacing is overlaminated with another translucent silk screen or coloredfilm 16, that provides background for the graphics. The backing film hasa self-adhesive or applied adhesive on the side adhering to the facingand over the graphics. It would also be obvious to have the adhesive onthe back side of the facing and backside of the vinyl-graphic letters towhich the backing film is secured. The backing sheet is also rolled ontothe facing. For such an application, a laminating machine roller orsqueegee may be used.

In mass production, the graphics could be silk screened onto a vinyl andthen rolled into a roll from which sections of graphics are removed forseparate signs. Also, the background sheet may be obtained from apre-silk screened roll of .[.vinYl.]. .Iadd.vinyl .Iaddend.which maythen be placed in a laminating machine and laminated in place upon afacing with the graphics thereon.

It is not necessary that a clear vinyl be used upon which a backgroundis silk screened or otherwise applied since materials are made which arecolored through their thickness as the film is made. Such film may alsobe used for the backing film. The important feature is that the graphicsand backing sheet are applied by a roller or squeegee onto the facingwith the backing sheet laminated in place.

One of the problems encountered with present day signs is discolorationdue to ultraviolet light. In the process of this invention there are atleast two layers through which the ultraviolet light must travel, thatis, the facing and the vinyl sheet from which the graphics are formed.By rolling the graphics and backing sheet in place, all of the air isdisplaced from between the layers and by enclosing the graphics in abacking sheet, no moisture can get to the graphics. Therefore, thegraphics are encased within an enclosure which protects the graphicsfrom the elements and from the ultraviolet light. It has been determinedthat high pressure rolling the graphic letters and backing sheet willprevent stretching which usually happens during a squeegee operation orduring power or manual application.

It has been determined that LEXAN manufactured by General Electric willfade due to ultraviolet light. Therefore, a clear coating 18 whichblocks ultraviolet light may be applied to the front surface of a LEXANfacing to prevent fading due to ultraviolet light.

The graphics and background may be formed by use of a clear vinyl filmto which silk screened color and/or graphics, or pigmented vinyl colormay be added. The graphics are cut from the vinyl sheet and applied tothe facing. Also, the thin vinyl to which the graphics have been appliedmay be cut to include the composite graphic display and applied to thefacing.

Rather than using a backing sheet on which a background has been formedby some means such as painting, spray, coating or silk screening, thebacking sheet may be omitted and the graphics and backside of the facingis covered by applying a suitable translucent paint film or coating byspray application, roller coating or silk screen method.

The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of theinvention, it being understood that other variants and embodimentsthereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, thelatter being defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:
 1. A sign which comprises:a .[.flexible.]..Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.facing .Iadd.sheet .Iaddend.including a firstand a second surface and having an overall dimension of said sign; athin .[.flexible sheet.]. .Iadd.graphics .Iaddend.having a first sideand a second side, .Iadd.said .Iaddend.graphics applied onto said second.[.side.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said .[.thin flexible.]..Iadd.transparent facing .Iaddend.sheet.[.,.]. .Iadd.with .Iaddend.saidfirst side of said thin .[.flexible sheet.]. .Iadd.graphics.Iaddend.being secured onto said second surface of said .[.flexible.]..Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.facing .Iadd.sheet .Iaddend.by adhesivemeans; and a protective covering backing sheet .[.of thin vinyl.].including a first surface and a second surface, said first surface ofsaid protective backing sheet being applied over said .[.thin flexiblesheet.]. .Iadd.second side of said graphics .Iaddend.and secured to saidsecond .[.side.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said .[.thin flexible.]..Iadd.transparent facing .Iaddend.sheet .[.and a secured to a portion ofsaid second surface of said flexible facing.]. by adhesive means toprotect said graphics, whereupon said sign may be installed in a specialframe allowing said graphics to be viewed only through said first.[.side.]. .Iadd.surface .Iaddend.of said .[.flexible.]..Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.facing .Iadd.sheet.Iaddend., and a protectivecoating of a material applied onto .[.said first.]. .Iadd.one.Iaddend.surface of said facing .Iadd.sheet .Iaddend.which blocksultraviolet light, whereby ultraviolet light that is harmful to graphicswill pass through at least two thicknesses of material for protection ofsaid graphics from the ultraviolet light.
 2. A sign as set forth inclaim 1, in whichsaid .Iadd.protective .Iaddend.covering .Iadd.backingsheet .Iaddend.is a thin vinyl sheet .[.including a background color.].which is applied over said graphics and the second surface of saidfacing by use of an adhesive.
 3. A sign as set forth in claim 1, inwhich said adhesive means further comprises a self-adhesive applied tosaid second surface of said facing .Iadd.sheet.Iaddend..
 4. A sign asset forth in claim 1, in which said adhesive means comprises aself-adhesive applied onto said .[.first side.]. .Iadd.second surface.Iaddend.of said .[.thin flexible.]. .Iadd.transparent facing.Iaddend.sheet .[.including.]. .Iadd.that includes .Iaddend.saidgraphics and onto said first surface of said .Iadd.protective covering.Iaddend.backing sheet.
 5. A sign as set forth in claim 1, in which:said.[.thin flexible.]. .Iadd.transparent facing .Iaddend.sheet is.[.vinyl.]. .Iadd.selected from a group consisting of LEXAN or ACRYLIC.Iaddend.to which said graphics have been applied .[.by a silk screenprocess.].; and said .Iadd.protective covering .Iaddend.backing sheetincludes a .Iadd.translucent .Iaddend.background .[.applied by a silkscreen process.].. .[.6. A sign as set forth in claim 1, in which saidfacing is translucent and selected from the group consisting ofpolycarbonate, or ACRyLIC or PVC reinforced with woven fiberglass, ornylon..].
 7. A sign as set forth in claim 1, in which said .[.thinflexible sheet has.]. .Iadd.graphics have .Iaddend.dimensions smallerthan said .[.flexible.]. .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.facing.Iadd.sheet.Iaddend.. .Iadd.8. A sign as set forth in claim 1, in whichsaid transparent facing sheet is selected from the group consisitng ofACRYLIC, LEXAN, or PVC reinforced with fiberglass or nylon. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. A sign as set forth in claim 1, in which said ultraviolet lightblocking protective coating is applied onto said first surface of saidtransparent facing sheet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A sign as set forth inclaim 1, in which said facing sheet is formed of a rigid material..Iaddend.